Safety guard for highways



May 5, 193%. c. G. WILLIAMS 2,39,517

SAFETY GUARD FOR HIGHWAYS Filed June 30, 1933 INVENTOR. 076%?![5 G M14 MM? ATTORNEY. i

Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY GUARD FOR HIGHWAYS of New York Application June 30,

20 Claims.

The present invention pertains to traffic protection, and the present application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 571,721, filed December 8, 1931.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved safety guard or barrier for use on highways and an improved wire fabric for such barriers.

The purpose of the barrier is not merely to confine vehicles to the highway but to safeguard vehicles from wreckage or damage and to protect individuals from injury or loss of life. For this reason, the barrier must whenever possible be of a type which will absorb the energy of impact of a vehicle without serious injury to the vehicle. In other words, the barrier must be capable of yielding to a certain extent under the impact so as to bring the vehicle to a comparatively gradual stop. The extent to which the barrier may yield or stretch will vary with different road conditions. In some cases it is necessary to provide much less stretch of the barrier than in other cases, as for instance, on the edge of a steep embankment or bordering a bridge, for if the carrier yields too much the vehicle may drop between the barrier and the edge of the roadway.

Heretofore there have been two general classes of non-rigid barriers: First, barriers that yield by structural deformation; and, second, barriers that provide practically no yield except such as results from elastic or permanent stretch of the material of which they are formed.

In the first class belong the barriers which consist of a broad strip of open mesh wire fabric supported on posts. When a vehicle strikes a barrier of this type, it is caught by the meshes of the fabric. The fabric is elongated under the impact by structural deformation (1. e. by closing of the meshes), and offers a yielding resistance which causes a comparatively gradual arrest of the vehicle. However, the deformation of the fabric by the impact narrows the strip and produces a permanent and unsightly bag or concavity therein which cannot be eradicated. The only way to restore the barrier to its original form is to cut out the deformed portion and replace it with a new section.

In the second class belong barriers consisting of two or more cables strung on posts. Such barriers possess an advantage over barriers of the first class in that they permit of a clean sweep of the wind and will not collect snow, leaves or trash, but they are so unyielding that they are likely to check a vehicle too suddenly. Also, when a vehicle strikes such a barrier the cables tend 1933, Serial No. 678,321

to ride over the chassis and cut into the superstructure seriously endangering the occupants of the vehicle. A cable will not grip the vehicle as do the meshes of the fabric type of barriers and the tendency to slip rather than grip is accentuated by the fact that the cable is circular in cross-section.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a third class of barrier which will combine the advantages of the other two and will at the same time overcome their disadvantages. To this end I have devised a barrier which will yield by structural deformation and also by stretch of the material of which it is composed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a fabric which is composed of a plurality of tension wires which will close about and grasp an impinging element, but which fabric cannot be narrowed under impact so that after arresting a vehicle there will be no unsightly concavity to be removed and any slack can be taken up by merely pulling the fabric taut.

Preferably my improved barrier is composed of a pair of vertically spaced bands of wire fabric each band corresponding in tensile strength to that of each cable of the ordinary cable barrier, but since in my improved barrier the cable is transformed into a fiat ribbon of far greater Width than the diameter of the cable there will be no tendency for the band to slip and cut into the vehicle. Another advantage of thus, in effect, spreading out a cable into a fiat band is that the barrier is much more conspicuous at night.

Furthermore, since there are two spaced tension members there will be no pronounced bag in the barrier after an impact and the individual ribbons may be pulled up separately to restore the barrier to its normal, taut condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrier fabric with contiguous tension wires interwoven with warp wires or pickets so that a face view of the fabric shows substantially no apertures therethrough, although an edge view will show openings between the warp wires each side of the pickets. Under impact these openings can close only by deformation of the pickets as the tension wires tend to straighten out from their normal sinuous form. Such deformation as occurs results in reducing the thickness of the fabric rather than its width, because the contiguous relation of the tension or warp wires prevents narrowing of the band.

There are certain barriers in the second class composed of ribbons of solid metal. my invention distinguishes not only in provid- From these ing a gripping surface, but also in providing tension members that are more yielding and at the same time much stronger per weight of metal. It is obvious that the process of forming the wires results in greater strength than would be the case were the same metal made into a solid ribbon. With a solid metal ribbon an incipient crack caused by an impact will quickly spread and tear or split'across the entire ribbon upon a second or third impact. With a woven fabric there is no tendency for a crack to spread, because the crack is confined to the particular wire in which it is formed.

Another advantage of the woven band is that it may be made up in unlimited length and requires no joints at short intervals for thermal expansion and contraction, since the fabric is sufficiently yielding and elastic itself to take. care of changes in length due to extreme weather conditions.

Another advantage of my improved fabric as applied to a highway guard results from its flexibility in the plane of the fabric whereby it may accommodate itself to edgewisev curvature and hence may be made'tofollow a rise and fall of the road without twisting out of its normal vertical plane between supports Other objects and advantages of my invention will: appear in the following description of a number of embodiments and thereafter the novelty and scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is afragmental view in perspective of a barrier comprising a pair of tape-like tension members supported on a series of posts;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side elevation of one of the tension members;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on the line- 44 of Fig. 2, showing how the longitudinal ele- '65 'as' shownv in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 comprises a plurality ments or warp wires of the tension members are tied together by a weft element;

Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are views in section similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but illustrating respectively different means for tying the warp Wires together;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modified form or tape-like tension mem- Fig. 12 is a view in section similar to Fig. 4, but showing a fabric formed with weft elements of half round wire; and

Fig. 13 is a view insection taken on the line l3-l3 ofFig. 12.

As shown in Fig. 1 my highway guard comprises a series of posts 25 and a pair of metal bands 26 secured thereto and stretched therebetween. Any suitable meansfor fastening the bands to the posts may be'employed. As illustrated the metal bands are clamped to the posts by means of clamping plates 4| which are fastened to the posts by lag screws 42.

Each band or tape-like tension member 26 of longitudinal tension elements or warp wires the opposite. ends of the loop 30 lying within the shed formed between the warp wires.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 a picket 3| is used which lies wholly within the shed between the warp wires except at the top and bottom where it passes about the top and bottom warp wires as indicated at 32.

When a vehicle strikes my improved barrier the warp wires act like fingers to close about and grasp the impinging parts so that the barrier will not slip and increase the hazards of the impact as will a cable or a solid metal ribbon. While the grasping action is a favorable. feature of the open mesh type of barrier there is this important difference that less deformation is possible with my barrier and such as does occur will be comparatively inconspicuous and will. resuit in reducing the thickness of the fabric rather than its Width.

In all of the structures so far described it will be noted that the warp wires are in contact one with another at the points where they cross, mid- Way between the pickets. Hence, a face view of the fabric shows no openings therethrough, but when viewed edgewise, as in Fig. 3, openings appear between the warp wires at each side of each picket. Under an impact these openings may be closed by actual deformation of the pickets, somewhat after the manner indicated in Fig. 7, where the picket 33 is bent to a zigzag or undulating form by tension of the warp wires. In other words, the fabric is flattened by the impact. If desired, the fabric may be made with pickets of the type shown in Fig. 7, so as to flatten the sinuosities of the warp wires and render the fabric less yielding and so that the pickets will aid in preserving thev spacing of the warp wires. The undulations of the pickets form seats for warp wires and will maintain the warp wires against displacement in the plane of the fabric even in cases where the warp wires are not contiguous.

There are various ways in which the weft wire 28 may be secured to the marginal warp wires 21.

In Fig. 4, the loops 29, are. substantially closed about the warp wires 21. In Fig. 8 each loop is extended so that it has a terminal portion 35 projecting between the marginal warp wire and the next adjacent warp wire. In the construction shown in Fig. 9, the weft wire is not only looped about the marginal warp wires but is also twisted around the body of the weft wire as indicated at 36 so as to provide a more secure hold of the weft wire upon the warp wire. Fig. 10 shows a still further modification in which the weft wire is formed with an S-shaped terminal portion 31 which is coiled about the marginal warp wire in one direction and then is passed in the opposite direction about the next adjacent warp wire.

The modification shown in Fig. 11 is very similar to that shown in Fig. 2, differing therefrom only in the fact that the marginal warp wires 38 are formed with indentations 39 at intervals and the weft wires 40 are anchored to the. marginal warp wires in these indentations. This fixes the weft wires against longitudinal displacement. The weft wires 49 may be secured to the warp wires 38 in any of the various ways illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive.

Obviously, in the constructions shown in Figs. 2 to 11 inclusive the number and size of warp wires will determine the strength of the barrier and will be proportioned to give a predetermined strength. The'wires may be of round, half-round or rectangular section as .desired. For example, in Figs. 12 and 13, I show a fabric which differs from that shown in Figs. 2, 3. and 4 only in the fact that it is provided with pickets 43 of halfrouncl stock. The pickets are thus of heavier cross-section per separation of warp wires, and because the pickets are flat on one side they may be more easily bent around the marginal warp wires as shown at 44.

Manifestly, the tape-like fabric structures provided by my invention will be of greater width than a cable composed of the same weight of metal and will possess the advantages of greater visibility, less tendency to slip, and less tendency to cut. Furthermore a flat strip is more readily seen than a member of curved cross-section; also, the bands may be painted or plated to increase their visibility and to protect them from corro- I have described a number of different forms of tape-like tension members which may be used in my improved highway guard or barrier. These are, however, to be taken as illustrative and not limitative of the invention. Any well-known means of securing the tension members to the posts may. be employed and I do not wish to limit myself to the particular means shown in Fig. 1. The tape-like tension members may be fastened so securely to the posts that when they are subjected to impact the blow will be confined to the panel struck (i. e. to the section between the two posts located respectively at either side of the point of impact) without communicating the stress or strain to adjacent panels. On the other hand, in some cases it is desirable to distribute the force of impact over a number of panels. This can readily be done by reducing the frictional hold of the clamping plates 21 on the tension members, or, in other words, by not driving the lag screws 28 so tightly into the posts, whereby the tension members may slide between the clamping plates and posts when subjected to tension exceeding a predetermined value. I wish it to be understood therefore that I reserve the right to make such changes in form and. structure as fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A highway guard comprising a series of supports, a vertical series of contiguous tension elements supported by and extending between said supports, and means tying said elements into a unitary tape-like structure.

2. A highway guard comprising a series of supports, a vertical series of tension elements supported by and extending between said supports, and means holding said elements against relative displacement in vertical direction, each of said elements being horizontally sinuous.

3. A highway guard comprising a series of supports, a vertical series of contiguous tension elements supported by and extending between said supports, and means tying said elements into a unitary tape-like structure, each of said elements being horizontally sinuous.

4. A highway guard comprising a series of supports, a pair of vertically spaced tape-like tension members supported by and extending between said supports with the face of each member vertically disposed, each member consisting of a plurality of longitudinally-extending wires contiguously disposed, and means for tying said elements of each member into a unitary structure.

5. A highway guard comprising a series of supports, a, pair of vertically-spaced tape-like tension members supported by and extending between said supports, each member consisting of a plurality of longitudinally-extending, horizontally-sinuous wires, contiguously disposed in vertical series, and means for tying said elements of each member into a unitary structure.

6. A highway guard comprising a series of vertical supports, and a plurality of vertically spaced tape-like members carried by and extending between said supports, each member comprising a vertical series of contiguous and horizontallysinuous, longitudinal tension elements, and a plurality of transverse tie elements securing the longitudinal elements of each member into a unitary structure.

7 A highway guard comprising'a series of supports and a tape-like member carried by and extending between said supports, said member being composed of longitudinal warp wires and transverse weft wires interwoven therewith, the weft wires being fixed to the warp Wires at opposite margins of the fabric.

8. A highway guard comprising a series of supports and a tape-like member carried by and extending between said supports, said member being composed of longitudinal warp wires and transverse weft wires interwoven therewith, the weft wires being fixed to the warp wires at opposite margins of the fabric, and being also formed with seats for the warp wires to prevent displacement of the latter.

9. A highway guard comprising a series of vertical supports and a plurality of vertically spaced tape-like members carried by and extending between said supports, each member being composed of warp wires and weft wires interwoven therewith, each weft wire being fixed to the warp wires at opposite margins of the fabric.

10. A highway guard comprising a series of vertical supports and a tape-like member carried by and extending between said supports, said member consisting of contiguous warp wires with weft wires interwoven therewith, each weft wire being fixed to a marginal warp wire.

11. A highway guard comprising a series of vertical supports and a plurality of vertically spaced tape-like members carried by and extending between said supports, each member consisting of contiguous warp wires and interwoven weft wires, each weft wire being coiled about 2. marginal warp wire.

12. A highway guard comprising a series of vertical supports and a tape-like member carried by and extending between said supports, said member consisting of a woven fabric composed of contiguous Warp wires and Weft wires interwoven therewith, each weft wire being secured at each end thereof to a marginal warp wire, the marginal warp wires being indented at the points of attachment of the weft wires thereto.

13. A guard fence comprising supports, wire strands mounted on said supports, means for maintaining said strands deflected alternately in opposite directions at a pluralityof points between the said supports, the strands being supported by said means for sliding movement in directions longitudinally of the strands.

14. A guard fence comprising supports, wire strands mounted on said supports, means for maintaining said strands deflected alternately in opposite directions at a plurality of points between the said supports, the strands being supported by said means for sliding movement in directions longitudinally of the strands but suping permanent bends formed in the front and rear sides thereof to serve as seats for the strand wires, the strand Wires being disposed in front of certain stay wires and behind adjacent stay wires and slidably supported on said seats.

16. A guard fence comprising supports, wire strands mounted on said supports, stay wires having permanent bends fo-rmed'in the front and rear sides thereof to serve as seats for the strand wires, the strand Wires being disposed in front of certain stay wires and behind adjacent stay wires and slidably supported on said seats, each strand being disposed against a given stay wire on the side opposite to that at which the adja cent strands are disposed.

17. A guard fence comprising supports, wire strands mounted on said supports, stay members positioned intermediate said supports and deflecting said wire strands alternately in opposite directions, said stay members having offset portions serving as seats for slidably supporting the strands, additional strand members rigidly connected to the said stay members.

18. A guard fence comprising supports, wire strands mounted on said supports, vertical stay wires positioned intermediate said supports and deflecting the strand wires alternately in opposite directions, certain of the strand wires being fixed to the stay wires with other strand wires intervening therebetween and slidable with respect to the stay Wires.

19. A guard fence comprising supports, wire 7 strands mounted on said supports, vertical stay wires positioned intermediate said supports and deflecting the strand wires alternately in opposite directions, certain of the strand wires being fixed to the stay wires with other strand wires intervening therebetween and slidable with respect to the stay wires, said stay wires being formed with permanent bends in the front and rear sides thereof to serve as seats for slidably supporting such intervening strand wires.

20. A guard fence comprising supports, a series of wire strands mounted on said supports, vertical stay wires positioned intermediatesaid supports and deflecting the strand wires alternately in opposite directions, the outer strand wires of the series being fixed to the stay wires, said stay Wires being formed with permanent bends in the front and rear sides thereof to serve as seats for slidably supporting strand wires in-' tervening between said outer strand wires.

CHARLES G. WILLIAMS. 

